16,272 research outputs found
Formation of antiwaves in gap-junction-coupled chains of neurons
Using network models consisting of gap junction coupled Wang-Buszaki neurons,
we demonstrate that it is possible to obtain not only synchronous activity
between neurons but also a variety of constant phase shifts between 0 and \pi.
We call these phase shifts intermediate stable phaselocked states. These phase
shifts can produce a large variety of wave-like activity patterns in
one-dimensional chains and two-dimensional arrays of neurons, which can be
studied by reducing the system of equations to a phase model. The 2\pi periodic
coupling functions of these models are characterized by prominent higher order
terms in their Fourier expansion, which can be varied by changing model
parameters. We study how the relative contribution of the odd and even terms
affect what solutions are possible, the basin of attraction of those solutions
and their stability. These models may be applicable to the spinal central
pattern generators of the dogfish and also to the developing neocortex of the
neonatal rat
Extreme plasma states in laser-governed vacuum breakdown
Triggering vacuum breakdown at the upcoming laser facilities can provide
rapid electron-positron pair production for studies in laboratory astrophysics
and fundamental physics. However, the density of the emerging plasma should
seemingly stop rising at the relativistic critical density, when the plasma
becomes opaque. Here we identify the opportunity of breaking this limit using
optimal beam configuration of petawatt-class lasers. Tightly focused laser
fields allow plasma generation in a small focal volume much less than
, and creating extreme plasma states in terms of density and
produced currents. These states can be regarded as a new object of nonlinear
plasma physics. Using 3D QED-PIC simulations we demonstrate the possibility of
reaching densities of more than cm, which is an order of
magnitude higher than previously expected. Controlling the process via the
initial target parameters gives the opportunity to reach the discovered plasma
states at the upcoming laser facilities
Calibration and Multiple Reliability Assessments of a Scrum Machine Instrumented to Measure Force
Coaches need reliable methods of quantifying rugby union scrum force performance in order to make data-driven decisions. The purpose of this study is to present the reliability of a replicable instrumented scrum machine. We performed 3 phases of deadweight calibration on 8 S-type load cells; during deadweight calibration, each load cell was loaded with ~20–200 kg. Phase 1 compared power sources (wall outlet vs. portable power station). Phase 2 tested the inter-session reliability of the load cells after 15, 30, 45, 60, and 420 min of run time. Phase 3 tested between-session reliability, comparing days 0, 1, 7, and 180. We also performed a phase of inter-trial reliability when humans pushed on the fully instrumented scrum machine. Fourteen collegiate rugby players performed four warm-up trials and then five 100%-effort trials; peak and average voltage during the push were compared between the 100%-effort trials. For all phases, statistical analyses show near-perfect reliability. Therefore, we conclude that our novel instrumented scrum machine is ready for in vivo data collection; other coaches or researchers could duplicate our methods to create their own reliable instrumented scrum machine
Pseudo-merohedral twinning and noncrystallographic symmetry in orthorhombic crystals of SIVmac239 Nef core domain bound to different-length TCRzeta fragments.
HIV/SIV Nef mediates many cellular processes through interactions with various cytoplasmic and membrane-associated host proteins, including the signalling zeta subunit of the T-cell receptor (TCRzeta). Here, the crystallization strategy, methods and refinement procedures used to solve the structures of the core domain of the SIVmac239 isolate of Nef (Nef(core)) in complex with two different TCRzeta fragments are described. The structure of SIVmac239 Nef(core) bound to the longer TCRzeta polypeptide (Leu51-Asp93) was determined to 3.7 A resolution (R(work) = 28.7%) in the tetragonal space group P4(3)2(1)2. The structure of SIVmac239 Nef(core) in complex with the shorter TCRzeta polypeptide (Ala63-Arg80) was determined to 2.05 A resolution (R(work) = 17.0%), but only after the detection of nearly perfect pseudo-merohedral crystal twinning and proper assignment of the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1). The reduction in crystal space-group symmetry induced by the truncated TCRzeta polypeptide appears to be caused by the rearrangement of crystal-contact hydrogen-bonding networks and the substitution of crystallographic symmetry operations by similar noncrystallographic symmetry (NCS) operations. The combination of NCS rotations that were nearly parallel to the twin operation (k, h, -l) and a and b unit-cell parameters that were nearly identical predisposed the P2(1)2(1)2(1) crystal form to pseudo-merohedral twinning
Non-perturbative approach for the time-dependent symmetry breaking
We present a variational method which uses a quartic exponential function as
a trial wave-function to describe time-dependent quantum mechanical systems. We
introduce a new physical variable which is appropriate to describe the
shape of wave-packet, and calculate the effective action as a function of both
the dispersion and . The effective potential
successfully describes the transition of the system from the false vacuum to
the true vacuum. The present method well describes the long time evolution of
the wave-function of the system after the symmetry breaking, which is shown in
comparison with the direct numerical computations of wave-function.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure
Comment on "Antilocalization in a 2D Electron Gas in a Random Magnetic Field"
In a recent Letter, Taras-Semchuk and Efetov reconsider the problem of
electron localization in a random magnetic field in two dimensions. They claim
that due to the long-range nature of the vector potential correlations an
additional term appears in the effective field theory (-model) of the
problem, leading to delocalization at the one-loop level. This calls into
question the results of earlier analytical studies, where the random magnetic
field problem was mapped onto the conventional unitary-class -model,
implying that the leading quantum correction is of two-loop order and of a
localizing nature. We show in this Comment, however, that the new term in fact
does not exist and was erroneously obtained by Taras-Semchuk and Efetov because
of an inconsistent treatment violating gauge invariance.Comment: 1 page, 2 figure
The Potential Trajectory of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae, an Emerging Threat to Health-Care Facilities, and the Impact of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Toolkit.
Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), a group of pathogens resistant to most antibiotics and associated with high mortality, are a rising emerging public health threat. Current approaches to infection control and prevention have not been adequate to prevent spread. An important but unproven approach is to have hospitals in a region coordinate surveillance and infection control measures. Using our Regional Healthcare Ecosystem Analyst (RHEA) simulation model and detailed Orange County, California, patient-level data on adult inpatient hospital and nursing home admissions (2011-2012), we simulated the spread of CRE throughout Orange County health-care facilities under 3 scenarios: no specific control measures, facility-level infection control efforts (uncoordinated control measures), and a coordinated regional effort. Aggressive uncoordinated and coordinated approaches were highly similar, averting 2,976 and 2,789 CRE transmission events, respectively (72.2% and 77.0% of transmission events), by year 5. With moderate control measures, coordinated regional control resulted in 21.3% more averted cases (n = 408) than did uncoordinated control at year 5. Our model suggests that without increased infection control approaches, CRE would become endemic in nearly all Orange County health-care facilities within 10 years. While implementing the interventions in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's CRE toolkit would not completely stop the spread of CRE, it would cut its spread substantially, by half
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